When it comes to dancing, there are many styles and forms of dance available. That’s one of the things that draws so many people to it. However, when cultural and historical dances are involved, the rules are often much more rigid.

That is the case with Irish step dancing. This is a very specific type of dance with a very long history. Today it is both a competitive sport and a performance art.

There are actually three very distinct styles of Irish step dancing. Ulster tradition dancers use their heels to create a tap-dancing like effect, while Munster tradition dancers did the same, but with the balls of their feet.

Finally, the Connemara style of Irish step dancing combined the two styles to use both the ball and heel of the foot, but also added in arm movements. In the 1920’s, the Irish Dance commission formed a standardized dance to the Ulster tradition and students have been learning this style all over the world.

Anna Meese is one of those students. She is a student at the Murray Irish Dance School in Oregon. It was founded by Pennsylvanian born Irish dancer and musician Geraldine Murray. The school teaches children of all ages about the historical dance.

But Anna says sometimes the rules of the dance can go a bit too far, just like the plot of the 1984 classic movie Footloose. It is about a town that made dancing illegal and the high schools students are determined to change the law.

Anna realized that Irish step dancing and the movie have a lot in common, and with a team of fellow dancers, decided to film a video using the hit song from the 1980’s movie.

What makes the video even more special, is that Anna and her fellow dancers only performed their dance routines in public places. Check out their video below and be sure to share it with your family and friends.